JP2010501404A - Cooling system for cooling a heat load in an aircraft and method for operating such a cooling system - Google Patents

Abstract

  A cooling system (10) for cooling a thermal load (28, 34) in an aircraft is thermally coupled to the cold air generating device (12), the cold air generating device (12), and connected to the first heat load (28). Connected to the first cold air transport fluid circuit (24) for carrying out heat from the first heat load (28) and to the second heat load (34), and heat from the second heat load (34). A second cold air conveying fluid circuit (30) to be carried out. The coupling system of the cooling system (10) selectively thermally couples the first cold carrier fluid circuit (24) to the second cold carrier fluid circuit (30) or from the second cold carrier fluid circuit (30). Configure to thermally separate. In a method of operating such a cooling system (10) that cools a thermal load (28, 34) in an aircraft, the combined system causes the first cold carrier fluid circuit (24) to selectively connect a second cold carrier fluid. Thermally coupled to the circuit (30) or thermally separated from the second cold air carrier fluid circuit (30).

Description

  The present invention relates to a cooling system for cooling a heat load in an aircraft, the cooling system being coupled to a first heat load while being thermally coupled to the cold air generation device and the cold air generation device. A first cold air conveying fluid circuit for carrying out heat from the air and a second cold air carrying fluid circuit connected to the second heat load and carrying out heat from the second heat load. The invention further relates to a method of operating such a cooling system.

  A well-known cooling system suitable for use in an aircraft comprises a central cold generator, which is thermally coupled to the cold carrier fluid circuit and from multiple thermal loads connected in parallel to the cold carrier fluid circuit. Remove heat. The heat load may be at different temperature levels based on operating conditions, and thus heat transfer from the heat load to the cold carrier fluid circuit will occur at different temperature levels. In order to ensure proper functioning of the entire system, the operating temperature level of the cold air generator must therefore always be selected to sufficiently cool the heat load at the cold level. As a result, the cold generator must be operated at a low operating temperature that is energetically unfavorable and, therefore, at a relatively low efficiency.

  Another known cooling system for cooling a heat load in an aircraft has a first cold air transfer fluid circuit that carries heat from a cold level heat load to a cold generator. The cold air generating device transmits the heat carried out from the first cold air carrier fluid circuit to the second cold air carrier fluid circuit, and the second cold air carrier fluid circuit has an action of carrying out heat from a heat load at a relatively high temperature level. Do. A heat exchanger that releases heat to be carried out from the entire system to the outside is disposed in the second cold air conveyance fluid circuit. In order to ensure proper functioning of the overall system at high ambient temperatures as well, the second cold carrier fluid circuit must be maintained at a relatively high temperature level. For this reason, it is necessary to operate the cool air generating device at a high operating temperature level that is energetically unfavorable and thus with relatively low efficiency. Due to technical limitations in the maximum operating temperature of the cold generator and other heat loads coupled to the second cold carrier fluid circuit, proper operation of the entire system at very high ambient temperatures can no longer be guaranteed.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a cooling system for cooling a heat load in an aircraft that allows energy loads to be efficiently cooled for different temperature levels.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, a cooling system for cooling a heat load in an aircraft according to the present invention is connected to a cold air generating device, the cold air generating device, and the first heat load. A cooling system including a first cold air conveyance fluid circuit that carries out heat from one heat load and a second cold air carrier fluid circuit that is connected to the second heat load and carries out heat from the second heat load. A coupling system suitable for selectively thermally coupling the first cold carrier fluid circuit to the second cold carrier fluid circuit or thermally separating the first cold carrier fluid circuit from the second cold carrier fluid circuit. In other words, in the cooling system according to the present invention, the coupling system acts to thermally couple or decouple between the first and second cold carrier fluid circuits as required.

  According to the cooling system of the present invention, which allows selective thermal coupling or separation of the first and second cold carrier fluid circuits, a cold air generator coupled to the first cold carrier fluid circuit is used at high ambient temperatures. Thus, the second cold air conveying fluid circuit can also be cooled. This is particularly advantageous when it is not possible to carry enough heat from the second cold carrier fluid circuit to the surroundings due to the high ambient temperature. On the other hand, at the average ambient temperature, by separating the first and second cold carrier fluid circuits, only the first thermal load connected to the first cold carrier fluid circuit can be cooled via the cold air generator. . On the other hand, the 2nd heat load connected to the 2nd cold air conveyance fluid circuit can be cooled by carrying out heat to the circumference, for example. At low ambient temperatures, the first cold carrier fluid circuit can be finally cooled using the second cold carrier fluid circuit by coupling the first and second cold carrier fluid circuits together. As a result, the cold air generating device connected to the first cold air conveying fluid circuit can be switched off or the burden can be reduced. Thus, an increase in energy efficiency with a reduced ambient temperature is obtained with the entire system according to the invention. Furthermore, it ensures a cooling function for both cold carrier fluid circuits, even at very high ambient temperatures.

  A cold steam process cooler can be used as the cold air generating device of the cooling system according to the present invention. Such devices usually include a cooling medium circuit in which an expansion valve and a compressor are placed. The cold air generator preferably comprises a condenser, which is placed in the cooling medium circuit and serves to carry the heat out to the environment. For thermal coupling of the cold air generating device to the first cold air conveying fluid circuit, the cold air generating device preferably comprises an evaporator and connects the evaporator to the first cold air conveying fluid circuit. For example, the cold carrier fluid flowing through the first cold carrier fluid circuit is caused to flow into the evaporator of the cold air generating device, and the heat from the first cold carrier fluid circuit and thus the heat from the first heat load is carried out.

  The cold carrier liquid is preferably used as a cold carrier fluid in the cooling system according to the invention. However, as an alternative, there can be a biphasic or gaseous cold carrier fluid. In order to circulate the cold carrier fluid through the first cold carrier fluid circuit, a transfer device, for example designed in the form of a pump, can be arranged in the first cold carrier fluid circuit. Similarly, the cold carrier fluid flowing through the second cold air conveying fluid circuit is preferably circulated by a transfer device, for example in the form of a pump.

  In a preferred embodiment of the cooling system according to the invention, the coupling system has a first valve, which is arranged in the first cold carrier fluid circuit. Preferably, the first valve is configured to selectively cause the cold carrier fluid flowing through the first cold carrier fluid circuit to flow into the first bypass pipe or make thermal contact with the cold carrier fluid flowing through the second cold carrier fluid circuit. And As an alternative, the coupling system has a first valve disposed in the second cold air carrier fluid circuit, and selectively supplies the cold carrier fluid flowing through the second cold air carrier fluid circuit together with the first valve to the first bypass pipe. Or is brought into thermal contact with the cold air carrier fluid flowing through the first cold air carrier fluid circuit.

  The first valve located in the first or second cold air carrier fluid circuit is preferably designed as a three-way valve type, whereby the cold air carrier fluid flowing through the first or second cold air carrier fluid circuit is partially Can be introduced into the first bypass pipe and partially brought into thermal contact with the cold carrier fluid flowing through the other cold carrier fluid circuit. Furthermore, it is preferable that the first valve has a variable flow cross section, and the flow rate ratio flowing into the first bypass pipe out of the cold air carrier fluid flowing through the first or second cold air carrier fluid circuit, and the other The flow rate ratio at which the cold carrier fluid in the cold carrier fluid circuit is brought into thermal contact with the cold carrier fluid circuit can be controlled as required.

  The coupling system of the cooling system according to the present invention further preferably comprises a first heat exchanger, which is connected to the second cold air conveying fluid circuit, and selectively with the first cold air by the first valve. It is configured so that it can be connected or disconnected from the carrier fluid circuit. As an alternative, the coupling system of the cooling system according to the invention also comprises a first heat exchanger, which is connected to the first cold air transfer fluid circuit and selectively selected by the first valve, (2) A structure that can be connected to or separated from the cold air conveying fluid circuit.

  The first heat exchanger provides indirect thermal coupling between the first and second cold carrier fluid circuits. Such a configuration can operate, for example, the first and second cold air carrier fluid circuits having different cold air carrier fluids, if necessary. Furthermore, the first and second cold carrier fluid circuits are hydraulically separated from each other, thereby increasing the reliability in the event of a leak in one of the cold carrier fluid circuits, which This is because the other cold air carrier fluid circuit can be used independently of the one cold air carrier fluid circuit.

  In another embodiment of the cooling system according to the present invention, the first heat exchanger that creates a thermal coupling between the first and second cold air conveying fluid circuits is omitted. Instead, the coupling system in another embodiment of the cooling system according to the invention comprises a first connecting pipe connected to the first valve and a second connecting pipe connected to the second valve. The first and second connection pipes can be selectively opened or closed by the first and second valves, respectively, and the first and second connection pipes allow the first and second cold air conveying fluid circuits to be opened and closed. Can be connected to each other. In this way, the first and second cold carrier fluid circuits can be directly coupled, and therefore the first and second cold carrier fluid circuits can be connected to form a single cold carrier fluid circuit. .

  Compared with the coupling system with the first heat exchanger, the coupling system with only the first and second connecting pipes and the first and second valves has a simple and light-weight structure. The weight can be reduced as compared with a combined system having one heat exchanger. A coupling system that provides direct fluid coupling of the first and second cold carrier fluid circuits, however, can only be used when operating the first and second cold carrier fluid circuits with the same cold carrier fluid.

  The first and second valves are preferably designed as a three-way valve type with a variable flow cross section. The cold carrier fluid flowing through the first cold carrier fluid circuit can be allowed to flow into the second cold carrier fluid circuit, for example, partially through the first bypass pipe and partially through the first connection pipe. The volume flow rate respectively flowing into the second cold air conveyance fluid circuit can be adjusted by a special method.

  The third valve is preferably arranged in the second cold air carrier fluid circuit, and the cold air carrier fluid flowing through the second cold air carrier fluid circuit is selectively allowed to flow into the second heat exchanger and / or the second bypass pipe. A configuration that can be used. The third valve is preferably designed as a three-way valve type, also having a variable flow cross section, so that the cold carrier fluid flowing through the second cold carrier fluid circuit and partly the second heat exchanger, and Partially flowing into the second bypass pipe. Preferably, the second heat exchanger is configured to carry the heat from the second cold air conveying fluid circuit to the surroundings. Therefore, it is preferable that the third valve is controlled based on the ambient temperature and based on the amount of heat generated by the heat load arranged in the second cold air conveyance fluid circuit.

  In a method of operating the above cooling system for cooling a thermal load in an aircraft according to the present invention, a first cold air carrier fluid circuit is selectively thermally coupled to a second cold air carrier fluid circuit by a coupling system. Alternatively, it is thermally separated from the second cold air conveying fluid circuit.

  Preferably, the cold carrier fluid flowing through the first or second cold carrier fluid circuit is selectively introduced into the first bypass pipe by the first valve disposed in the first or second cold carrier fluid circuit. Alternatively, it is brought into thermal contact with the cold carrier fluid flowing through the second or first cold carrier fluid circuit.

  A first heat exchanger connected to the first or second cold air carrier fluid circuit is selectively connected to or separated from the second or first cold air carrier fluid circuit by a first valve.

  As an alternative to this, the first cold air carrier fluid circuit is selectively connected to the second cold air carrier fluid circuit by means of a first valve connected to the first connecting pipe and a second valve connected to the second connecting pipe or It can also be separated.

  In a preferred embodiment of the method for operating a cooling system for cooling a thermal load in an aircraft according to the present invention, a cold air carrying fluid flowing through a second cold air carrying fluid circuit is caused by a third valve arranged in the second cold air carrying fluid circuit. , Optionally, into the second heat exchanger and / or the second bypass pipe.

  Two preferred embodiments of a cooling system for cooling a thermal load in an aircraft according to the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

1 shows a first embodiment of a cooling system according to the invention. 2 shows a second embodiment of a cooling system according to the invention.

  FIG. 1 illustrates a first exemplary embodiment of a cooling system 10 suitable for use in an aircraft. The cooling system 10 comprises a cold air generator 12, which is designed as a cold steam process cooler type and has a cooling medium circuit 14, in which an expansion valve 16 and a compressor 18 are arranged. . Moreover, the condenser 20 is arrange | positioned in the cooling-medium circuit 14 of the cool air production | generation apparatus 12, and a condenser carries out the effect | action which carries out heat around.

  The evaporator 22 of the cold air generating device 12 is connected to the first cold air carrier fluid circuit 24, and the cold air carrier fluid flowing through the first cold air carrier fluid circuit 24 is caused to flow into the evaporator 22. Heat is transferred to the cool air generator 12. The cold carrier fluid flowing through the first cold carrier fluid circuit is conveyed to the first cold carrier fluid circuit 24 by the first pump 26, and the heat from the first heat load 28 disposed in the first cold carrier fluid circuit 24 is carried out. .

The cooling system 10 further includes a second cold carrier fluid circuit 30 where the cold carrier fluid is circulated by the second pump 32 and carries heat from the second heat load 34. The temperature level of the second heat load 34 is higher than the temperature level of the first heat load 28.
A cold carrier fluid circulating in the second cold carrier fluid circuit 30 is caused to flow into the first heat exchanger 36. On the other hand, the first cold air conveyance fluid circuit 24 is connected to the cold air generation device 12 and can be selectively connected to or separated from the first heat exchanger 36. For this purpose, the first three-way valve 38 is arranged downstream of the first pump 26 in the first cold air conveying fluid circuit 24. The first three-way valve 38 acts to selectively flow the cold air carrier fluid flowing through the first cold air carrier fluid circuit 24 to the first heat exchanger 36 or the first bypass pipe 40.

  The first heat exchanger 36, the first three-way valve 38 and the first bypass pipe 40 thus form a coupling system, which selectively connects the first cold air conveying fluid circuit 24 to the second cold air conveying fluid. It is thermally coupled to the circuit 30 or the first cold carrier fluid circuit 30 is thermally separated from the second cold carrier fluid circuit 30. The first three-way valve 38 has a variable flow cross section so that the cold carrier fluid flowing through the first cold carrier fluid circuit 24 partially flows through the first heat exchanger 36 and partially through the first bypass pipe 40. It is possible to adjust the flow rate ratio of the cold carrier fluid flowing through the first cold carrier fluid circuit 24 flowing into the first heat exchanger 36 and the first bypass pipe 40 as necessary.

  In the second cold air transfer fluid circuit 30, another three-way valve 42 is disposed on the downstream side of the second pump 32, and the three-way valve 42 selectively selects the cold air transfer fluid flowing through the second cold air transfer fluid circuit 30 as the second It passes through the heat exchanger 44 or the second bypass pipe 46. The second heat exchanger 44 serves to carry out the heat from the second cold air conveyance fluid circuit 30 and thus the heat from the second heat load 34 to the surroundings. The other three-way valve 42 similarly has a variable flow rate cross section, and cool air carrier fluid flowing through the second cold air carrier fluid circuit 30 is partially passed to the second heat exchanger 44 and partially to the second bypass pipe 46. The flow rate ratio of the cold carrier fluid flowing through the second cold carrier fluid circuit 30 that can flow into the second heat exchanger 44 and the second bypass pipe 46, respectively, is also the corresponding control of the other three-way valve 42. Can be adjusted as required.

  Hereinafter, functions of the cooling system shown in FIG. 1 will be described. When the ambient temperature is sufficiently low, the heat generated by the second heat load 34 can be carried out to the surroundings via the second heat exchanger 44 by the corresponding control of the other three-way valve 42. In this case, the second cold air conveying fluid circuit 30 has a certain fluid flow temperature.

  During this operation of the cooling system 10, the first cold carrier fluid circuit 24 is separated from the second cold carrier fluid circuit 30 by corresponding control of the first three-way valve 38. That is, the cool air carrier fluid circulating through the first cold air carrier fluid circuit 24 is caused to flow only into the first bypass pipe 40. During this operating phase of the cooling system 10, the operating temperature of the cold air generator 12 can be adapted to the relatively low temperature of the first heat load 28. As a result, it is possible to operate the cool air generating device 12 with particularly high energy efficiency.

  At higher ambient temperatures, it is no longer possible to dissipate sufficient heat from the second cold carrier fluid circuit 30 by the second heat exchanger 44. Therefore, the fluid flow temperature of the second cold air conveying fluid circuit 30 increases. If the fluid flow temperature of the second cold air conveying fluid circuit 30 has risen and it cannot be ensured that the heat is appropriately removed from the second heat load 34, the second cold air conveying fluid circuit 30 is moved to the first cold air conveying device at a lower temperature. It can be thermally coupled to the fluid circuit 24 via a first heat exchanger 36.

  Therefore, the first three-way valve 38 is controlled so that the first bypass pipe 40 is partially or completely closed, and the cold air carrier fluid circulating in the first cold air carrier fluid circuit 24 flows into the first heat exchanger 36. Let As a result, excess heat can be transferred from the second cold air carrier fluid circuit 30 to the first cold air carrier fluid circuit 24 via the first heat exchanger 36. It is particularly required that the first three-way valve 38 completely close the first bypass pipe 40 to the second heat exchanger 44 where the ambient temperature is the cold carrier fluid flowing through the second cold carrier fluid circuit 30. When the inlet temperature is higher.

  On the other hand, at a sufficiently low ambient temperature, the temperature of the second cold air conveyance fluid circuit 30 can be made lower than the temperature of the first cold air conveyance fluid circuit 24. For this purpose, the other three-way valve 42 is controlled so that the cold air carrier fluid flowing through the second cold air carrier fluid circuit 30 flows into the second heat exchanger 44 mostly or completely. When the temperature of the second cold carrier fluid circuit 30 is lower than the temperature of the first cold carrier fluid circuit 24, the corresponding heat coupling of the first and second cold carrier fluid circuits 24, 30 causes the first heat exchanger 36 to It is also possible to carry out the heat from the first heat load 28 to the surroundings by the second cold air conveying fluid circuit 30 and the second heat exchanger 44. As a result, the burden on the cold air generation device 12 can be reduced.

  The second embodiment of the cooling system 10 shown in FIG. 2 omits the configuration shown in FIG. 1 and a heat exchanger that provides thermal coupling between the first and second cold air carrier fluid circuits 24, 30, Essentially different. Instead, in addition to the first three-way valve 38 and the first bypass pipe 40, the coupling system of the cooling system 10 includes a first connection pipe 48 connected to the first three-way valve 38, a second three-way valve 50, and the second three-way valve. A second connecting pipe 52 connected to the valve 50 is provided.

  The first and second three-way valves 38 and 50 each have a variable flow cross section. Accordingly, the cold carrier fluid flowing through the first cold carrier fluid circuit 24 is partly directed to the first bypass pipe 40 and partly via the first connection pipe 48 by corresponding control of the first three-way valve 38. The flow rate ratio of the cold air carrier fluid that can flow into the second cold air carrier fluid circuit 30 and flows into the second cold air carrier fluid circuit 30 via the first bypass pipe 40 and the first connection pipe 48 is as required. It can be adjusted. Similarly, the cold carrier fluid flowing through the second cold carrier fluid circuit 30 is partially circulated in the second cold carrier fluid circuit 30 by the corresponding control of the second three-way valve 50, and via the second connection pipe 52. Partly into the first cold air conveying fluid circuit 24.

  In this way, direct fluid coupling of the first and second cold air delivery fluid circuits 24, 30 is possible by corresponding control of the first and second three-way valves 38, 50. In other respects, the configuration and function of the cooling system 10 shown in FIG. 2 correspond to the configuration and function shown in FIG.

Claims (11)

In a cooling system (10) for cooling a thermal load (28, 34) in an aircraft,
A cold air generator (12);
A first cold air transfer fluid circuit (24) that is thermally coupled to the cold air generator (12) and connected to the first heat load (28) to carry out heat from the first heat load (28);
A second cold carrier fluid circuit (30) connected to the second heat load (34) and carrying out heat from the second heat load (34);
A first heat exchanger (44) arranged in the second cold air carrier fluid circuit (30) and configured to carry heat from the second cold air carrier fluid circuit (30) to the surroundings;
The first cold air carrier fluid circuit (24) is selectively thermally coupled to the second cold air carrier fluid circuit (30) or thermally from the second cold air carrier fluid circuit (30). A cooling system comprising a coupling system configured to separate. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein
The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the first heat load (28) is at a lower temperature than the second heat load (34). The cooling system according to claim 1 or 2,
The coupling system includes a first valve (38), which is disposed in the first or second cold air conveying fluid circuit (24, 30), and the first or second The cold carrier fluid flowing through the second cold carrier fluid circuit (24, 30) selectively flows into the first bypass pipe 40, or flows through the second or first cold carrier fluid circuit (30, 24). A cooling system characterized in that it is configured to be brought into thermal contact with a cold carrier fluid. The cooling system according to claim 3.
The coupling system includes a second heat exchanger (36) that connects to and selects the first or second cold air transfer fluid circuit (24, 30). In particular, the cooling system is configured to be connectable or separable to the second or first cold air conveying fluid circuit (30, 24) via the first valve (38). The cooling system according to claim 3.
The coupling system includes a first connection pipe (48) connected to the first valve (38) and a second connection pipe (52) connected to the second valve (50). The cooling system according to (52), wherein the first and second cold air conveying fluid circuits (24, 30) are connected. In the cooling system according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A third valve (42) is disposed in the second cold air conveying fluid circuit (30), and the cold air conveying fluid flowing through the second cold air conveying fluid circuit (30) is selectively used in the first heat exchanger (44). And / or a cooling system configured to flow into the second bypass pipe (46). A method of operating a cooling system (10) for cooling a thermal load (28, 34) in an aircraft, the cooling system comprising:
A cold air generator (12);
A first cold air conveying fluid circuit (24) that is thermally coupled to the cold air generator (12) and connected to the first heat load (28) to carry out heat from the first heat load (28); ,
A second cold carrier fluid circuit (30) connected to the second heat load (34) and carrying out heat from the second heat load (34);
A first heat exchanger (44) arranged in the second cold air carrier fluid circuit (30) and configured to carry out heat from the second cold air carrier fluid circuit (30) to the surroundings;
The first cold carrier fluid circuit (24) is selectively thermally coupled to the second cold carrier fluid circuit (30) by a coupling system or the second cold carrier fluid circuit (30). Method of operating to thermally isolate from The method of claim 7, wherein
The cold carrier fluid flowing through the first or second cold carrier fluid circuit (24, 30) is selectively introduced into the first bypass pipe (40), or the first or second cold air is supplied. The first valve (38) disposed in the carrier fluid circuit (24, 30) is in thermal contact with the cold carrier fluid flowing through the second or first cold carrier fluid circuit (30, 24). Method. The method of claim 8, wherein
A second heat exchanger (36) connected to the first or second cold air conveying fluid circuit (24, 30) is selectively connected to the second or first by the first valve (38). Connecting to or disconnecting from the cold carrier fluid circuit (30, 24). The method of claim 8, wherein
A second valve (50) connected to the first connection pipe (48) and the first connection pipe (48) and the second connection pipe (52) selectively connected to the first cold air conveyance fluid circuit (24). To connect to or disconnect from the second cold air carrier fluid circuit (30). In the method as described in any one of Claims 7-10,
The cool air carrier fluid flowing through the second cold air carrier fluid circuit (30) is selectively sent to the first heat exchanger (44) by the third valve (42) disposed in the second cold air carrier fluid circuit (30). ) And / or the second bypass pipe (46).

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